Charnwood

Charnwood's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, health and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 170,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Charnwood increased by 8.2%, from about 153,000 to 166,000.

The addition of almost 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Charnwood was home to, on average, 4.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Charnwood

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Charnwood increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This affluent area had a slightly lower average age than the East Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 11% of people in Charnwood are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Charnwood by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Charnwood working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 9.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Charnwood decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Charnwood, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Charnwood

The percentage of Charnwood residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Charnwood residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.5% to 7.2%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Charnwood that rented privately increased from 8.3% to 14% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Charnwood households that owned their home decreased from 77% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Charnwood increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Charnwood, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Charnwood residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.3% to 4.2% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Charnwood residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Charnwood decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Charnwood, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Charnwood

The number of people in Charnwood from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 10,000 in 2001 to just over 16,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 6.7% to 9.7% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 4.7% to 7.0%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Charnwood from the White ethnic groups increased from about 140,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 92% to 87%. The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,400 to about 2,600 (from 0.9% to 1.6%).

Just over 1,300 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 620 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Charnwood increased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Charnwood by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Charnwood, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in Charnwood which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of Charnwood residents that were employed decreased from 53% to 52% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were unemployed remained close to 2.6%, while the percentage of Charnwood residents that were self-employed increased from 7.7% to 8.4%.

The proportion of employed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 53% in 2001 to 52% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 53% to 52%.

The rate of employment was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Charnwood that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.0% to 10% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Charnwood increased from 31% to 36%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Charnwood

The number of people in Charnwood that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 2,400 in 2001 to about 3,900 in 2011. This represents a change from 1.6% to 2.4% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 1.8% to 3.4%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Charnwood that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to about 92,000 in 2011 (from 70% to 56%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 26,000 to just under 49,000 (from 17% to 29%).

About 11,000 people (6.5%) did not state their religion, up from about 10,000 in 2001 (6.3%).

The population who identified as Muslim in Charnwood remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Charnwood by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Charnwood with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.5% to 10% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage of households in Charnwood without children increased from 60% to 62%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Charnwood residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.5%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Charnwood remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Charnwood by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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